Minnesota Professional Responsibility Rule 6.1 states, "A lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year."

Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) advances the pro bono ethic by engaging law students in pro bono work during law school so that they will continue to do such work after they graduate. MJF brings law students from the classroom to the community. MJF is a volunteer-driven organization founded by and for law students with a record of assisting low-income Minnesotans to gain access to legal advice and representation.
Each law student is encouraged to perform at least 50 hours of law-related volunteer service during law school. One University of St. Thomas Law School student, Christina Davenport, has logged over 1,000 hours of law-related service. That's right, over 1,000 hours working for free, while law school debt continues to accumulate. When asked what motivates her, Davenport responded, "Pro Bono work should be about serving the community. Volunteering, for me, is serving my community."

As a first-year law student Davenport served her law school community by organizing the first Criminal Law Association at St. Thomas. She also served the larger community by participating in MJF's Street Law, a program designed to teach at-risk youth about legal rights and responsibilities. During her second and third year, Davenport participated in UST's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
More relevant to her future career goals though, was the time she volunteered at the U.S. District Attorney's office during the summer and fall of 2007. Davenport said the most significant moment came while she was researching terrorism policy. During the research process two terrorism related cases arose. "I saw, firsthand, the connection between policy and actual cases," she said.

Davenport currently serves her community through the Rice County Attorney's Office. Last summer she worked four days a week, regularly appeared in traffic court, and occasionally prosecuted bench trials. This semester she is down to one day a week because of the long 50-mile drive from Minneapolis to Faribault, but still enjoys the opportunity to apply the information she is learning in class. "Rice County [Attorney's Office] is a great teaching office," Davenport said, "it's more about peer mentorship; we share strengths and experiences."
Davenport encourages other law students to volunteer because, "some things you can only learn by doing." She also believes that law students frustrated with classrooms and textbooks may find volunteering provides a hands-on way to explore new areas of the law and apply what they have learned. Davenport encourages practicing attorneys to invest in the future of the Minnesota legal community by utilizing law student volunteers because, "Law students will be members of the bar … and we want high quality attorneys."

"Christina is a wonderful example of a servant leader who balances the myriad tasks associated with being a law student with her commitment to public service and giving back to the community," said Sara Sommarstrom, the MJF Program Director at UST.

Henry Shea, professor at UST and former U.S. District Attorney, observed, "Christina's work reflects a number of things: dedication, commitment and an ability to reach out and include many different people with diverse viewpoints and experiences. At this time in our nation we need everyone pitching in. She sets the example for any law student to follow in terms of serving our community and I hope many others will follow in her footsteps in years to come."

If you want to volunteer or do pro bono visit the MSBA Pro Bono Directory. You may also contact Jennifer Eichten, MSBA Pro Bono Development Director, at 612.278.6308, 800.882.MSBA or jeichten@mnbar.org.